Jay Bruce to begin rehab assignment in Port St. Lucie, will get time at first base

Another Met who hasn’t seen the field in quite some time began a rehab assignment in Port St. Lucie Tuesday night.

Jay Bruce — who has not appeared in a game since June 17th — doesn’t quite reach David Wright levels of missing time, but the outfielder was in the St. Lucie Mets lineup Tuesday, batting third and playing right field.

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Bruce went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout, leaving two men on base, before he was replaced by Quinn Brodey in right field.

Wright, who had played two consecutive games for St. Lucie, was not in the lineup Tuesday.

Jay Bruce will get some time at first base during his rehab assignment. (David Zalubowski / AP)

In 62 games this season after he was gifted a three-year, $39 million contract, Bruce was hitting .212 with three home runs and 17 RBI for the Mets. They brought Bruce back in the offseason after shipping him to Cleveland for the latter part of the 2017 season.

Bruce will get time in the outfield and at first base during his rehab assignment, according to manager Mickey Callaway. He played three games at first for the Mets this season, and right now the club has mostly been putting Wilmer Flores there.

“Jay’s going to play in the game today and we’re going to take it day by day,” Callaway said. “He feels really good. He’s going to play outfield and first base, and alternate back and forth between the two.”

If the Mets plan on giving Bruce significant time at first when he returns, it could further stall prospect Peter Alonso’s chances at a callup.

Alonso has been tearing it up in the minors this year, hitting .287 with 29 home runs and 105 RBI in time split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.

Though Alonso’s defense has been called into question, it’s not like the Mets have any Gold Glovers at the position currently. Alonso was recently named the defensive player of the month for July for Las Vegas, and has clearly been taking pains to improve his fielding.

“This is awesome because I’ve worked hard and have come a long way. This is just motivation to keep building on success,” Alonso tweeted about the honor on Monday.